What I Believe
A HttyD Fanfiction
Rating:
T [for blood & gore and some violence in later chapters. Also, death.]
Genre:
Mystery / General
Summary:
When rumours of a deadly, vicious and undocumented species of dragon attacking villages reaches the ears of Hiccup and Toothless, the regular visit to Outcast Island suddenly turns into something else. And that something else isn't that good. In fact, it might just be the cause of their deaths.
CONTENT WARNING:
Aspects like violence, blood and gore, and death, will be present in later chapters.
DISLAIMER:
I DO NOT OWN HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.
Previously...
-THERE IS NO PREVIOUSLY, IT'S CALLED FIRST CHAPTER FOR A REASON.-
CHAPTER ONE: Get Away From Life
Stoick groaned; it was way past noon. Seriously, if his son didn't stop flying off every chance he had, he might just have to put a leash on the kid.
Behind the Chief, a Rumblehorn stepped forward, growling in question.
Skullcrusher's rider sighed, patting the dragon's thick neck. "Hiccup again." He said, and that was enough information. The Rumblehorn snorted, rolling its eyes and focusing them onto the clear blue skies. It certainly wasn't the first time the kid had annoyed his rider. Sometimes, it was amusing, others... Not so much.
Eventually, the man just turned around and went back into the new and improved Forge, work calling once more. The dragon moved closer to the building to be near his rider, should the unexpected happen, but was generally bored.
He looked to the skies, considering taking a flight. Maybe he'd even find his rider's son. Huh. That would be funny. The boy's father couldn't find him, his dragon, no problem.
Swishing his long tail around, he laid down by the wall of the building, setting his head down. He draped his tail over his snout, eyes unmoving. He grunted; he was going to be here a while...
...Wasn't he?
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Hiccup swallowed, crouching low to the saddle. He was not looking forward to seeing his Dad. They flew above the cloud cover, heading back to Berk after their flight, that lasted exceptionally long, thanks to his stupidity.
All too soon, they arrived. "Land in the plaza, Bud." He instructed. "I'm not ready to face him yet... I need to clear my head a bit." Toothless nodded, gliding down to the clearing, landing neatly.
Hiccup frowned, stopping mid-getting off Toothless.
Silence reigned, and that was concerning. He looked around, seeing doors hanging wide open, as if the residents had rushed out. It was strange anywhere, but on Berk, usually everything was locked up tight at this hour, thanks to the cold nights they experienced.
Speaking of which, it was freezing out, even with his protective leather armour.
"Come on Bud... Let's see what's up."
They walked through at a fast stride, heading for the Great Hall- it was as good a place to start than any. He could hear some activity in there, so that was good, right?
He pushed open the already slightly open doors, and immediately, all eyes fell on him.
The heir stared. Most of the village was in here, all gathered around the table looking worried. As soon as he walked in, though, everyone pretty much slumped and collapsed with relief, a few groans escaping the crowd.
He coughed, clearing his throat, scratching the back of his neck. "Should I know what's going on?" The young man asked, as Toothless walked inside, growling in confusion.
Gobber's voice rose from the thick mass of vikings, and he soon saw the Blacksmith, relief flooded over his features. "Oh, thank Thor..." He whispered, as his friends and girlfriend emerged from the crowd too.
Fishlegs was the first to speak up. "We were so worried!" He cried.
He was soon joined by the others, their dragons eventually appearing beside them.
Hiccup inwardly groaned; he had been gone for an extra two hours after his return time! And his father had been organising search parties?!
Oh, his day just turned downhill. Really. Fast. Record time.
Gobber looked at him. "He's in your 'ouse. Frettin' about nothin'." Gobber said quickly, and he sighed, turning heel. Toothless followed him, as the rider made his way over to the Haddock Household. Behind him and his dragon, the village were returning to their own homes, for most of them, their dragons closely following, steadfast and loyal as always.
He didn't even knock on the door, he just pushed it open, bracing himself.
Stoick was about to give him another long, over-protective father talk about curfews that he didn't need any more, wasn't he?
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"DAD! I'm TWENTY years old!" Hiccup snapped, pacing back and forth. His father stood in the centre of the room, fuming.
"I know that, Hiccup! But the night time world is dangerous!"
The Dragon Rider glared at him. "Uh huh. And, with me I have an over-protective Night Fury, the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself!" He paused to breathe. "Dad, we can take care of ourselves now! Why can't you understand that?" His chest hurt with anger and breathlessness. "Don't you trust me any more?"
"I DO TRUST YOU!" He father shouted. The heir slightly reared back, shocked by the Chief's outburst... This hadn't happened in years. "BUT THERE'S A KILLER DRAGON ON THE LOOSE!"
Hiccup blinked. "What?" He asked, and his father stopped.
"...You didn't... Hear?"
The young man shook his head. He hadn't heard any of this.
"Apparently," Stoick started, "There's an undocumented dragon roaming around the Archipelago as of late. It's been raiding villages-" Hiccup's eyes widened.
"On it's own? It's been attacking them just like that?" Stoick nodded.
"-As I was saying- Raiding villages. Attacking the residents, burning houses, stealing and pillaging. It's been chaos. It's even taken a few lives..." The man looked at his son, who was silent. "It comes at night... And you weren't back... I feared it had also taken yours." Stoick softly spoke.
The Chief couldn't help but shudder.
Just thinking of the words 'taken lives' and 'his son' put together was terrifying.
The adolescent stepped forward, eyes flickering in different directions, his mind at a loss for words.
Hiccup was silent as father embraced son, understanding welding between them.
"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have yelled at you like that..." Stoick whispered, burying his nose in his child's auburn hair, the strong emotions from the previous conversation left behind. "I was just so scared... I heard that the drag'n was reported to be in the area... And you weren't home..."
"I know... I wouldn't have stayed away if I had known, Dad..." Hiccup murmured. "I'm sorry too... But can I breathe... Please?"
His father let him go, sighing. "You're probably exhausted."
As if on cue, Hiccup yawned, blinking blearily. Stoick chuckled. "Knew it. Are you hungry at all?" He asked. The heir shook his head, as Toothless got up from his place beside Skullcrusher at the hearth. Cooing, he nuzzled his human father, bounding up the stairs to his and Hiccup's room.
"In a minute, Bud. You go on-" He yawned again, "-I'll be right there." Hiccup told the Night Fury, who dipped his head and entered, leaving the door slightly open.
Hiccup walked over to pet his father's Rumblehorn, wishing the big dragon goodnight.
"Are you sure there isn't anything else you need?" His father asked worriedly. He was still shaken up by the fact his son might not be here, and the poor lad wouldn't have even known his death awaited. The Night Fury's rider turned back to his father, nodding.
"It's all good," He informed the viking. "I just need to sleep. 29 hours straight of flying does that to you, unfortunately."
He walked up to his father, finding his way into the man's arms once more. "Good night, Dad." He closed his eyes with another yawn. "I love you..." He murmured.
"I love you too, Son..." Stoick stopped. Then, with a tint of amusement in his eyes, he felt his child fall limp in his arms, right on the spot. It was almost comical- Hiccup must have been exceptionally tired to have literally fallen asleep in his father's arms, right there and then.
Carrying him up to his room, he gently tucked Hiccup into his bed. This certainly wasn't the first time he had done this, but the feelings of love and adoration still remained strong as ever. Toothless was already asleep, but then again, he had been the one flying for 29 hours straight.
"Good night, Son..." He whispered, planting a kiss on his child's forehead. "I love you."
He walked out the room, closing the door behind him, with a sigh and smile. But little did the Chief know, that he wouldn't find them in that room the following morning...
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A/N:
Whoo. Now, that took a while. Especially considering how short it was... Although I think it was worth it.
So yeah, this sort of fits into the 'General' genre of this story. Some fluffy father-son bonding to kick us off. Something relatively light; the calm before the storm, if you will.
Well, that's all for now. The next chapter shouldn't be long, ok?
TOODLES!
-Crystallion12.
oOo-oOo-oOo
ShoutOuts:
No ShoutOuts, first chapter.
